PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
City of Aspen launches ‘Be Prepared Not Scared’ campaign for disaster planning
Emergency preparedness and evacuation open house to be held June 22
ASPEN, CO – The city of Aspen, in partnership with local agencies, is launching an emergency evacuation plan campaign that kicks off with an open house on June 22 where visitors and residents can learn more about how to prepare themselves for an emergency.
The “Be Prepared Not Scared” campaign is designed to equip members of the public with the tools and information to empower themselves to make life-saving decisions prior to an emergency. Because Aspen’s geography poses unique challenges, evacuating the city could take between seven and 15 hours, based on evacuation modeling scenarios conducted by Ladris Technologies Inc. in partnership with the city’s engineering, special events and police departments.
“Because we have limited egress from town, people may be asked to shelter in place or find an area of refuge as the safest approach as opposed to driving into a possible traffic jam,” said Bill Linn, Aspen assistant police chief. “It’s important that community members, commuters and visitors understand what the limitations are and have a plan in place with their loved ones.”
The city, in partnership with Aspen Fire and Pitkin County Emergency Management, is hosting an open house on June 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Aspen Fire station located at 420 E. Hopkins Ave. in an effort to educate the public on emergency preparedness.
At the event, attendees will learn how to make a plan for themselves and their families and friends, pre-identify areas of refuge, along with how to build a go-kit with necessary personal information and survival items and sign up for emergency alerts.
Jake Andersen, deputy chief of the Aspen Fire Department, said first responders, community members and visitors should prepare for large-scale wildfires, including worst-case scenarios which are highly unlikely, but not impossible.
“We are preparing people for the worst while we work hard to ensure the best outcome, and the best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens,” Andersen said. “While emergency responders and firefighters will do everything in their power to control a wildfire, and protect lives and property, it’s important that the public realize that our resources and effectiveness have limitations in these dynamic and dangerous situations.
“Uncontrolled wildfires are natural disasters that can evolve rapidly and become unpredictable, so it’s imperative that every person, whether they are a resident or visitor of Aspen, recognize their safety and survival will depend largely on their own actions before and during one of these events. It is crucial to be prepared and heed the instructions of responders and incident command staff.”
For more information, go to https://www.aspenfire.com/wildfire-evacuation
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For more information please contact:
Bill Linn, assistant police chief
Phone: (970) 429-1803
Email: bill.linn@aspen.gov
Carolyn Sackariason, Communications Co-Manager
Phone: (970) 319-2791
Email: carolyn.sackariason@aspen.gov